Kevin O’Leary, a businessman and television personality known for his role on *Shark Tank*, and Fox News are facing a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit stems from O’Leary's claims made during at least ten appearances on Fox News, where he accused opponents of his Utah data center project of being affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. The plaintiffs, two Utah nonprofits—Alliance for a Better Utah and Elevate Strategies—along with their leaders, Joshua Kanter and Gabrielle Finlayson, filed the complaint on July 15, 2026.
The complaint alleges that O’Leary referred to the nonprofits and their leaders as 'proxies of the Chinese government.' O’Leary claimed to have evidence of 'two cells inside of Utah' working under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party, specifically naming the nonprofits and their founders. Despite public denials from the plaintiffs, Fox News continued to air O’Leary's accusations.
On June 25, O’Leary retracted his statements, stating he had 'no evidence' linking the plaintiffs to Chinese funding. Fox News issued an on-air apology on June 27, acknowledging O’Leary's correction. However, the plaintiffs argue that the damage to their reputations has already occurred, citing the availability of O’Leary's segments on Fox's digital platforms. Fox News has stated that it will vigorously defend against the lawsuit. The proposed data center has faced significant opposition from local residents due to concerns over its environmental impact and resource consumption.